Lets just say Im not keen on flat, straight roads .. especially when they have heavy traffic on tĥem and the verge is impossible to cycle on.
Today was a long ride across the Tejo estuary which is much as descibed above - however there were 2 highlights today...
I had cycled out of Santarem on the north side of the river to avoid the busy roads along the A13 corridor whuch worked well but I had to cross the Tagus and my choice was the bridge 10 miles downstream at Muge which was lovely - It was about a mile long box girder construction. The road deck is metal grid again and only single track so lights either side control the flow. Fortunately it has a dedidated cycle path at the side and above the road ... sounds good ? Hmmm
the width was abiut 4 inches more than my panniers and every 50 yards a stantion moved in those 4 inches. The whole bridge was bent and twisted from multiple collisions. I tried to cycle but eas wobbling all over the pkace because I coudnt get any speed up. After a few wobbkes it struck me tgat the safety barriers were actually below the height of my saddle.
This was the scariest dedicated cycle track Ive ever seen - one wobble to the right and you coukd be straight off the side of the bridge ! I walk/straddled the remaining part.
Highlight two ???
That was getting off the N118 near Alcochete where I saw Flamingoes on the estuary but theyvwere too far away for the photos to do justice.
The town of Setubal is very colourful ready for easter so I took lots of pics here as I got pre ious few on the highway to hell.